According to HHS, in order to begin improving the state’s inpatient psychiatric care system which provides care for adults, adolescents and children, a total of $47.7 million will be allocated to renovate and architecturally plan for the replacement of existing facilities as well as plan and design a new hospital. The funding is part of $300 million approved by the 85th Texas Legislature to improve the state hospital system in the 2018-2019 biennium)
Projects to be funded and implemented … [Read more...]

43 US states have a higher proportion of primary care physicians to residents than Texas and 35 out 80 Texas counties have no doctors at all. According to news reports, there are not enough doctors in Texas, especially in certain rural stretches of South Texas. The shortage will require training — and retaining — more physicians in Texas but one main problem is that the state needs to add more residency slots for post-graduate medical training to remain competitive — a problem that has plagued … [Read more...]

Federal Re-enrollmentAs a requirement of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), state Medicaid agencies must revalidate the enrollment of all providers by September 24, 2016. It is has passed!Texas Medicaid established an application submission deadline of June 17, 2016 which ensured providers of continued enrollment if a complete application was submitted by that date. Providers that missed the application submission deadline may still be able to complete the revalidation … [Read more...]

In the next 15 years, Texas is expected to see a 67 percent increase in adults age 65 and older. To help the state be better prepared to meet the needs of an aging population, the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services is hosting the 2016 Geriatric Symposium: Texas Taking the Next Step Aug 1-2, in Round Rock, Texas.Register now for this free event. You can register for one day or both. Continuing education hours will be available for nurses and other professionals.The 2-day … [Read more...]

Behavioral health services in Texas—which encompass both mental health and substance use disorders (SUDs)—have evolved and transformed over the past decade. Much of this transformation is due to the large investment and stewardship of the Texas Governor and legislators to improve the behavioral health service delivery system. The Medicaid 1115 Texas Healthcare Transformation and Quality Improvement Waiver ("the 1115 Transformation Waiver"), the movement toward managed care, the increased … [Read more...]

After Three Decades of Public Service, DFPS Commissioner Specia Stepping Down from Top Job AUSTIN – Judge John Specia Jr. today announced his intention to retire as Commissioner of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) effective May 31, 2016. “Judge Specia is a dynamic leader and has proven himself a true public servant for three decades,” Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Chris Traylor said. “His career will always be defined by his commitment to … [Read more...]

Austin to Host 2014 Texas Autism Research Conference
The fourth annual Texas Autism Research Conference will be July 24-25, 2014, at the University of Texas J.J. Pickle Research Campus in Austin. Leaders in the field of autism will present cutting edge autism research during workshops, presentations and poster sessions.
Participants must register by July 18 at 5 p.m., Central Time. No onsite registration is available.
"We're excited to bring together as many as 250 researchers, … [Read more...]

TEXAS STATE MEDICAID FRAUD CONTROL UNIT: 2013 ONSITE REVIEW
OIG oversees the activities of all Medicaid Fraud Control Units (MFCUs or Units). As part of this oversight, OIG conducts periodic reviews of all Units and prepares public reports based on these reviews.
The reviews assess Unit performance in accordance with the 12 MFCU performance standards and monitor Unit compliance with Federal grant requirements. For fiscal years (FYs) 2010 through 2012, the Texas Unit reported recoveries of … [Read more...]